On Derrick Rose’s Injury, The Fallout & 10 Potential Losers

When Derrick Rose went down on Saturday, hearts of basketball fans fell as well. Watching Rose lay motionless for what seemed like an eternity was agonizing and heartbreaking for the casual observer or hardcore hoops fanatic, the Bulls fans and foes. Given the unpredictable nature of how injuries affect athletes long term, the widespread aftershocks can’t always be determined but many will feel its reverberations. Surveying the damage, here are 10 parties we think will share in his lost presence on the court.

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1. The Chicago Bulls

In case you don’t know, TSS loves Derrick Rose. He’s a great player and, by all accounts, and even better person. With that, we wish nothing but the best and the speediest of recoveries (for Shumpert and Ricky Rubio, too). But, let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment. During one of our recent staff meetings, A.J. made a great point in regards to Rose’s recovery and style of play. Derrick’s strong suits are predicated on his ability to slash, attack the rim and run the floor faster than damn near anyone in basketball.

These sort of injuries frequently take upwards of a year to truly recover from, and in some cases, force players to miss an entire season. Pending this injury is as serious as it seems on the surface, how does this alter the franchise’s future? A situation like this one only highlights a player, say, Carlos Boozer who has yet to live to the numbers of his 2010 contract. Or maybe even Rip Hamilton who isn’t getting any younger. Jerry Reinsdorf and everyone related to Bulls management know this is still a good team without Derrick. Yet, the difference between being a playoff team and one with the ability to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June is that superstar. Good players are easy to find in a league boasting the best on Earth. Franchise players are once in a generation. Derrick Rose is just that. – J. Tinsley

2. adidas

Dwight Howard didn’t make to the second season, which didn’t help adidas’ cause but his absence isn’t damaging since big men historically haven’t been the best shoe salesmen. But his absence coupled with the brand’s mega-million dollar man going down hurts because it leaves the Stripes without their two marquee players on the court for marketing purposes. Adding insult to injury (no pun), Knicks rookie Shumpert sprawled on the floor wearing Top Ten 2000s wasn’t a good look. No, the shoes did not cause any of the injuries (more on that later) but perception often outweighs reality. – Gotty™

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3. Nike

Guilt by association here. Jason Petrie, Nike senior footwear designer and the man behind LeBron signature line of sneakers, caught a severe case of foot in mouth on Saturday, letting loose a few ill-thought out words via Twitter regarding Rose’s injury. Included in his now deleted messages (which still can be seen here) were assertions that “Pooh,” Rose’s childhood nickname, “chose poorly,” which we can assume is in reference to his sneaker brand of choice. Petrie didn’t stop there, attempting to defend his remarks but as anyone whose had a Twitter meltdown can attest (we see you, Brian McKnight), what’s done and said in 140 characters is tough to erase in that same limited space. Petrie has since apologized but the damage to Nike’s well protected image takes a blow for his initial remarks. – Gotty™

4. The NBA

Remember when Magic was injured in the ’89 Finals? The Bulls obviously aren’t as loaded as the Lakers so Rose’s absence has even greater significance. Minus the Bulls, a heavy favorite, the eventual champ will have an asterisk whose footnote reads “But that was the year the league’s reigning MVP was injured and did not participate in the Playoffs.” Without Rose, the league misses a golden opportunity to showcase a hard-nosed player with an old school work ethic, very much the opposite of most of the marquee players. – Gotty™

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5. LeBron James & The Miami Heat

The aforementioned asterisk definitely will be applied here if the Heat should manage to win the chip. Rose’s absence won’t loom as heavily over any other prospect champs but fans and critics won’t hesitate to disparage any title the Big Three acquire during while the leader of their nemesis isn’t around. Also, as tough an out as the Bulls would be with Rose, the Celtics have given the Heat the most trouble this season. We wouldn’t be surprised if Bron & co. would have preferred a Bulls team instead of the more likely Celtics squad in the Easter Conference Finals. – Gotty™

6. Tom Thibodeau

Bless his heart. From now until the end of eternity, Thibs’ decision to have his star player in the fourth quarter of a 20 point game with less than two minutes to play will serve as one of the greater “what if” scenarios in NBA history. And while Chicago isn’t exactly left for dead in the playoffs – they are still a very good team – it’s almost upsetting that for every great decision Thibs has made for the Bulls over the past two seasons, this could very well go down as a black eye he may never truly recover from depending on the long-lasting effects of the injury. – J. Tinsley

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7. David Stern

Rose and other players may not have made it out unscathed, but the league did as teams and their stars turned in a great first weekend of play. Looking back at the regular season, TV ratings actually rose this year with ABC, and TNT gamecasts saw increases of 6% and 4%, respectively, which indicates success on a surface level. However, players and fans both know the wear and tear of the condensed schedule (and no training camp) took their toll on starters who logged heavy minutes and may eventually cut short a few careers on the backend. The brunt of the blame will fall squarely on the shoulder’s of Stern, the perceived hired henchman for the team owners. – Gotty™

8. The Olympics

Only a few days ago, Team USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo had no intentions of expanding the Olympic team roster. After Rose injury, consider that statement null as Colangelo told SI.com called Rose’s injury “a big loss” to a team who has now lost five players since the roster was announced in January.- Gotty™

9. Chicago’s fan base

Rose going down was the most depressing thing to happen to Chicago sports since the Bartman incident; even more so than Jay Cutler’s “injury” in the 2011 NFC Championship game. He wasn’t just an athlete, he was one of their own. Born and raised on the city’s South Side and only leaving town for one year of college ball, Derrick spent his whole basketball career playing on Chicago courts. Not since Mike has another athlete been so beloved in the Windy City so to see him fall – especially while playing on home turf – is nearly as painful as watching Ricky get shot in the alley on BNTH. Okay, that comparison was dramatic, but it still encompasses how bad the scene looked. – J. Tinsley

I feel bad rooting for my Sixers now. Someone told me this wouldnt make a difference in the series. What an idiot. Of course this is going to make a difference, the question is, is it a big enough difference that the Sixers can actually win?

@tins – you speaking on the chi so much makes me believe you wanna be from here. no worries, we’ll accept you though bro.

@gotty – fuck adidas. they suck in terms of performance for basketball. with rose and shump going down on the same day wearing their shoes, i’ll always remind my lil homies who’s hair i’m cutting to move on to nike. and yeah…i know i have no facts to prove my point…but so what. adidas shoes are made to be rocked…not played in.

…as for two of my chi brethren going down with season-ending and career-altering injuries…i blame the entire Players Union. u cats wanted more money and blah, blah…and now look at all of these injuries piling up. shout to caron butler’s season-ending break as well. fuck this shit.

True adidas has been way behind in sneaker technology compared to nike, and even in jersey tech. But I don’t think the shoes had a lot to do with their injures, but I do think those Reebok ZigTech shoes would break an ankle when you take a step in them.

Yeah, just heard about this today. It isn’t mind-boggling to me because I don’t think Uncle ‘Arry’s ever really wanted the job anyways. He’s always feigned interest, but I think he knows that the job will kill through stress. Being England’s manager is the summation of being the Yankees’ manager, the head coach of the Cowboys and the head coach of Notre Dame rolled into one–on a national level.

who cares he aint played in a min like that anyways. i think they can go far with out him…but ultimately probably wont win the season. and i also think derik dont care he hates the limelight hes probably at home watching price is right on the couch right now like we all do when we dont go to work /school.

Poor D. Rose, I feel for him… I pray a speedy recovery for him and other injured players. Injuries like these are practically a given with the tough schedule.

No matter if D. Rose got injured or not, ya’ll gonna put an asterisk by a Heat championship regardless. I’m no Heat fan but I think the Lebron hate ’round here is ri-fuckin-diculous… homeboy is arguably thee best all-round player in the L.

Not denying his talent, just denying his performance on the biggest of stages. 8 points, JJ Barea, game 2…all of these things come to mind (He makes dope kicks tho, got the Mint Candy joints coming next week).

@Fish5 – I agree with your and Tins’ sentiment on…….Rose getting better soon. You have to wonder if he’ll be as dynamic when he recovers. Chris Paul is a ticking time bomb as well since he has no meniscus left in his knee.

I’m going to be honest I dang near lost myself & was in shock like most of us Bulls fans especially here in Chicago! Like my pops told me it’s probably better it happened now then down the road like it probably would have anyways in 1 of the later rounds! I know this is the playoffs & it’s a whole other animal, but Da Bulls do have the deepest team in the league & could still go far! It will be just a lot tougher now but no matter what I’m riding with my Bulls! That said my prayers go out to not only DRose but his whole family as he seems like such a genuine & nice person! 1 last thing *in my Bill Murray voice* Let’s Go Bulls!

But….. My boy shumps:'( You could tell my Knickerbockers missed him 2night, D-Wade got OFF! Nd just reiterate what I said earlier on twitter…. Tins, we beefin, nd Bron-Bron is a babied lil bitch, I hate him more than Bruce Bowen now….. Yes mother fucker I said it. (Sorry fo the Internet hostility bro…. I’m salty)